Mattie was going on 13 and had been getting a bit feeble the last couple of years. But she continued to enjoy living here and even got a little playful every once in a while. She died of liver cancer.

We found her at the Humane Society animal shelter in Ojai, California in 1994. She lived with us in Simi Valley until 1997, when we moved to Spain. She had a good life here, with a big, fenced-in yard to wander around in. She was always a gentle dog and we'll miss her company.